The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has lamented the stampede which occurred in Ibadan on Wednesday at a well-publicised funfair packaged for children in celebration of the Yuletide season.
LEADERSHIP reports that unspecified number of children lost their lives in the stampede that occurred during the funfair organised for children at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday.
Reports, confirmed by the Oyo state government had it that the inability of the organisers to control the surging crowd of children and adults who had thronged the Islamic High School, Ibadan venue of the event resulted in a stampede which claimed about 32 children while an unspecified number of others sustained varying degrees of injury.
Oyo APC in a statement issued in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, called on the state government to set up a high-powered panel to investigate the tragic incident with a view to identifying those believed to be culpable in the unfortunate death of the innocent kids as well as establishing the facts surrounding the sordid planning and execution of the event by the organisers.
“We are in deep sorrow as a result of the tragic incident which claimed many lives in Ibadan today. In any given circumstances, the loss of any innocent life attracts lamentations and regret as it became more saddening when it was realised that the ugly development could have been prevented it certain authorities had done the needful in the areas of surveillance, intelligence gathering and pro-activeness.
“While we are not going to preempt the Investigative panel recommended for establishment by the state government over this particular matter, we call on Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure that justice is done to the numerous victims of the tragedy even as we sympathise with their parents and other family members.” APC said.